Jury Awards Record-Setting Verdict in Nursing Home Lawsuit

When elderly loved ones are no longer able to live on their own, many family members turn to an assisted living facility or nursing home. While many of these facilities provide excellent care, there are times that the system fails. If you have lost a loved one because an assisted living facility or nursing home was negligent or failed to fulfill its care obligations, you may have the right to seek compensation for damages.

The family of a 77-year-old resident who died while living at a Colorado nursing home received $5.5 million in damages, in what was believed to be a record-setting verdict.

According to the lawsuit, the woman was first admitted as a resident of Life Care Center of Pueblo in April 2013. During her residency, she endured repeated instances of abuse and neglect that led to multiple infections, bed sores, unexplained severe bruising, dehydration and malnutrition. Testimony from caregivers and family members revealed that the woman was often found lying in her own urine and feces, and the neglect was so extensive that at one point, after having been transferred to the emergency room, hospital staff notified the woman’s family that her vagina was packed with dried feces. She died on November 20, 2013 – nearly 7 months after she was first admitted to the facility.

The family’s attorney, Brett Moss, pointed out that state inspectors cited the facility for deficiencies relevant to the woman’s injuries and argued the facility was chronically understaffed. The jury award included $500,000 in damages related to the woman’s death, $57,000 in economic damages for negligence and another $5 million in punitive damages. Absent from the trial was any corporate representative or witness on behalf of Life Care Centers of America, Inc., which Moss said may have impacted the jury award.

 

If you believe that a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, you may be entitled to compensation. Choosing the right attorney in this situation is also a vitally important decision. If you do not know an attorney who specializes in nursing home abuse, Lawsuit Financial has excellent legal referral sources all over the country and our professional staff will locate you a top-notch legal specialist, in your city or state, within 24-48 hours. This is a free service for injury victims and their family members.

 

Lawsuit Financial will also devise a legal finance plan to assist victims and family members through the difficult financial issues facing them. Victims do not want to conduct settlement negotiations when they are struggling, financially. If they do, they will, almost always, accept an offer that is less than full case value. Strategic lawsuit funding can often be the difference between a mediocre settlement and a large, injury appropriate settlement. Leveraging money from Lawsuit Financials may be the best solution to hold out for full case value. Apply online or call us toll free 1-877-377-SUIT (7848) to discuss your financial needs.